Well drilling equipment



March 6, 1962 R. A. MCCLINTOCK WELL DRILLING EQUIPMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 26. 1957 R055 A. McGL/N TOCK,

INVENTOR.

March 6, 1962 R. A. M CLINTOCK WELL DRILLING EQUIPMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26, 1957 R055 A. MoCL/NTOGK,

INVENTOR.

/4//orne March 6, 1962 R. A. M CLlNTOCK 3,023,809

WELL DRILLING EQUIPMENT (VIII I ,4 l i I lO R055 A. M: CLINTOGK,

IN VEN TOR.

UAL 41% United States Patent 3,023,809 WELL DRILLING EQUIPMENT Ross A. McClintock, Orange, Calif., assignor to Shaffer Tool Works, Bren, Calif., a corporation of California Filed July 26, 1957, Ser. No. 674,382 17 Claims. (Cl. 166-84) This invention relates generally to drilling equipment and relates more particularly to rotary drilling equipment for drilling wells in the earth.

While the present invention has particular utility in the drilling of wells for the recovery of oil and gas with high pressure drilling equipment, and is shown and described in such connection, it is to be understood, of course, that its utility is not confined thereto.

In the drilling of wells by the rotary method, a drill 'bit is rotated by means of a string of pipe known as the drill string or stem, and as the bit penetrates the earth,

additional sections of pipe are added.

In drilling with high pressure drilling equipment, there must be continuous pressure protection, both while drilling and while going in and out of the hole under pressure, there being a seal about the drill string to permit pressure drilling operations to be carried on, the seal being particularly important in underwater drilling opeartions as in such operations it is not only necessary to keep the fluid pressure within the well but it is also necessary to prevent water from entering the well. Equipment used for high pressure drilling generally includes a rotating blowout preventer and stripper which has a resilient seal therein adapted to sealingly engage all of the elements in the drill string (except for such abnormally large diameter tools as the bit or reamer). However, in some equipment, there is provision for effecting rotation of the sealing element but even with such a provision, the sealing element is subjected to friction and wear, particularly by the tool joints, drill collars and couplings as they pass throughthe sealing ele rnent while the string is being run in or pulled out of the hole.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide means for eliminating the heavy wear on the sealing element by the passage therethrough of such tool joints, drill collars, couplings and the like while the string is being run in or pulled out of the hole.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character providing longer life for such seals.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character wherein there are no protuberances on the exterior of the string so that said string will slide smoothly through said seal.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character which will eliminate leakage past the collars, joints, and the like when they pass through such seals.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character which provides a continuous kelly, an important feature when'drilling operations are under water.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character wherewith pressure drilling operations may be carried out with maximum safety and efi'iciency.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character which will minimize or eliminate hazards of blowouts and fire when drilling with compressed air or gas as a circulating medium.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character having means whereby the pipe or string sections may be easily and quickly connected together and easily and quickly disconnected thus saving time and expense.

3,023,809 Patented Mar. 6, 1962 The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufiiciently referred to in connection with the ,following detailed description of the accompanying drawings with respect to certain arrangements. After considering these examples, skilled persons will understand that variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed, and any structures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended claims are contemplated.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of apparatus embodying the present invention with portions broken away to show the interior construction thereof;

' FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a side view of a portion of a drill string with the present device embodied therein and with said drill string operably received in one type of blowout preventer or submarine head, a portion of said blowout preventer or submarine head being broken away to show the interior construction thereof;

FIG. 5 is a similar view showing the present device operably received in another type of blowout preventer or submarine head; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a length of tubing or pipe 10 of polygonal cross section, particularly the tubing shown being hexagonal in external cross sectional shape. The lengths of tubing or tubular sections or pipes 10 are alike and a description of one therefore will sufiice, a plurality of said tubular sections being used in making up a drill string for drilling oil wells and the like. While the pipes 10 are shown as being hexagonal in cross section, other nonround shapes may be used, such as, for example, square, octagonal, etc.

With particular reference to one such section 10, there is a mandrel 11 at one end, said mandrel being tubular and comprising a cylindrical base 14 and an axially arranged, cylindrical extension or shank 15 of reduced diameter relative to said base. The base 14- is in eifect integral with the section or pipe 10 and may either be formed integrally therewith or may be secured thereto by welding or the like, said mandrel being axially arranged with repect to the axis of the section 10. Further, the outside diameter of said base is smaller than the shortest cross sectional dimension of said pipe 10 so that there is a shoulder 17 entirely about the base 14 where it joins said pipe.

The base 14 is provided with an annular, exterior groove 18 and there is a sealing ring 19 operably disposed in said groove. Outwardly of the groove 18, at the junction of the base 14 and the extension or shank 15, there is a shoulder 28 from which a plurality of key slots 21 extend longitudinally inwardly in said base, that is toward the end of said base secured to the pipe 10. The number of key slots has a direct relationship to the number of sides of the exterior of the pipe '10, the number of said sides being a multiple of the number of key slots. The purpose of this arrangement will be described more particularly hereinafter. In the arrangement shown there are three key slots and six sides on the pipe.

At the outer ends of the key slots 21, said slots flare oppositely laterally and outwardly as at 23 and 24 for a purpose hereinafter described. The key slots 21 are uniformly spaced annularly and from each of said slots there extends a pair of downwardly inclined spiral or heiical recesses 26 and 27 which are spaced apart longitudinally with respect to the base and respective slots 21, said recesses extending in the same direction from the same respective sides of the key slots 21 with the recesses 26 adjacent the shoulder 20, the recesses 27 being spaced longitudinally inwardly from the recesses 26. Recesses 26 constitute a set of outer recesse in substantially the same plane relative to each other, while the recesses 27 constitute a set of inner recesses in substantially the same plane with respect to each other. Each of the recesses 26 have end walls 26a which close the ends thereof opposite the respective key slots 21 and the recesses 27 are provided with similar walls 27a. The outer and inner walls 26b and 26c of the recesses 26 are spirally or helically inclined and the outer and inner walls 27b and 27c of the recesses 27 are similarly arranged.

At the opposite end of the pipe there is an axially arranged barrel unit, indicated generally at 30, which comprises a tubular or cylindrical barrel 31 having an external cross sectional shape the same as that of the pipe 10 and of the same dimensions, the inside diameter of said barrel being a little greater than the outside diameter of the base 14 so that said base is readily slidable into and out of said barrel in telescopic fashion. Barrel 31 is in eifect integral with the section or pipe 10 and may be either formed integrally therewith or may be secured thereto by welding or the like. The outer free end of the barrel 31 has an end portion 32 which is internally beveled to provide an outwardly inclined or flared part so that said barrel and mandrel will, when brought together, more readily come into alignment and telescope together.

At the longitudinally inner end of the barrel, the end attached to the pipe 10, there is a thickened wall portion 33 which defines a reduced bore portion 34 arranged axially with respect to said barrel, and outwardly of the portion 33 the bore portion 34 joins or merges into the bore 36 of the pipe 10. It is to be understood that each pipe section is provided with a mandrel at one end and a barrel unit at the opposite end so that said sections may be joined together end-to-end.

The bore portion 34 of the barrel has a slightly greater diameter than the external diameter of the shank so that the upper free end portion of said shank may be telescopically received within said bore portion 34. Sealing means is provided between the barrel portion '33 and the said free end portion of the shank 15, said means comprising sealing ring 40 disposed in internal annular groove 41 in said barrel portion 33. A plurality of such grooves and seals may, of course, be used.

Within the barrel '31 there is operably disposed a key sleeve 45 arranged for sliding movement within said barrel. The sleeve 45 is provided with a plurality of keys 46 which extend outwardly or depend (as shown in FIG. 1) from the outer or lower end of said sleeve. There are the same number of keys 46 a there are key slots 21 and said keys are adapted to slide into and out of the respective slots 21. The keys 46 are provided with rounded outer or lower corners 43 which are adapted to slide on the rounded portions 24 of the slots 21 to facilitate the entrance of the keys into said slots 21 should said corners 43 and 24 make contact when the barrel unit is attached to the mandrel. Similarly, the corners 43', opposite the corners 43, of the keys 46 are also rounded somewhat to slip over corners 23 should they make contact when the parts of the device are telescoped together.

The key sleeve 45 is urged outwardly or downwardly in the barrel 30 as shown in FIG. 1, by a spring 44 disposed in the annular space 45' between the exterior of the shank 15 and the inner Wall surface of the barrel 30.

Spring 44 reacts between th upper end of the sleeve 45 and a shoulder 46' at the lower end of the barrel portion 33, said spring 44 being a coil spring and the inside diameter thereof is sufiicient to permit ready reception of the shank 15 therein.

Within the barrel 30 are a plurality of helical or spiral lugs 48 and 49 for the respective recesses 26 and 27. When the barrel 30 and mandrel are telescoped together the lugs 48 and 49 pass into the slots 21 and because of the spiral or helical shape of the walls 27c of the recesses 27, there is effected relative rotation of the barrel unit and mandrel so that the lugs 48 and 49 slide in a spiral direction into the respective recesses 26 and 27. With this movement of the parts, the keys 46 slide into the respective slots 21 under the force of spring 44 to close the opened sides of the said recesses 26 and 27 and prevent the lugs from being removed from said recesses. The sleeve 45 is held against rotation in the barrel by any suitable means. One such means comprises a set screw 52 screwed into a tapped opening provided therefor in the barrel, the inner end 53 of said screw being slidably received in a longitudinally extending groove 54 in said sleeve.

There is means provided for moving the sleeve 45 with its keys 46 to a position within the barrel whereat said keys are pulled out of the respective slots 21. This means includes a notch 56 in said sleeve and a slot 57 in the barrel, said slot 57 extending longitudinally of said barrel along the path of movement of said notch and exposing said notch 56 therethrough.

Any suitable tool for engaging said notch 56 through said slot may be used for retracting or moving said sleeve inwardly against the force of said spring.

Sealing means is provided to prevent the entrance through slot 57 of foreign material which might otherwise get into the mechanism and damage same. This sealing means comprises an elongated, generally oval shaped groove, indicated generally at 59, FIG. 1. The sides 60 of the groove 59 are spaced laterally apart and are disposed at opposite sides of the slot 57. The adjacent ends of the side parts 60 of the groove 59 are connected together by areuate shaped end parts 61 and said arcuate shaped parts 61 are spaced longitudinally beyond the respective ends of the slot 57 when the barrel unit and mandrel are connected together with the keys 46 in the key slot 21. A seal 63 is disposed in the groove 59 and when the barrel unit and mandrel are connected together, said seal 63 prevents foreign material from passing from the slot 57, past the sleeve 45 and into the mechanism.

The key sleeve 45 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves 65 of sufiicient width to permit the passage therein of the lugs 48 and 49. Grooves 65 are annularly spaced apart so that the key sleeve 45 may be inserted into the barrel from the lower free end thereof and moved to a position above said lugs 48 after the spring 44 has been inserted into said barrel. The key sleeve is rotated so that the grooves 65 are out of alignment of said lugs and the portions of said key sleeve between said grooves 65 will engage the upper sides of the lug 48 so that said key sleeve will not be pushed out of the barrel by the spring 44. The key sleeve is held in the latter mentioned non-rotative position by the set screw 52 and groove 54. The sleeve 45 may, of course, be removed from the barrel by removing screw 52 and rotating the sleeve 45 to a position whereat the grooves 65 are aligned with said lugs. The spring 44 will, of course, move said sleeve out of the barrel.

FIG. 4 shows a rotating blowout preventer and stripper or submarine head with which the above described apparatus may be used. This submarine head comprises a hollow body 75 from which depends as shown in FIG. 4, a re duced diameter portion 76 terminating at its free end in attaching flange 78 having the usual bolt receiving holes 79 whereby the submarine head may be attached to other apparatus.

The portion 76 has an internal bore 80 in which is received a sleeve 81 having a radially extending annular flange 82 at its outer or lower end, said flange 82 being received in an enlarged annular counterbore 83 at the outer end of said bore 80. Screws 84 received in openings provided therefor in the flange 82 and aligned tapped bores in said flange 78 secure the sleeve 81 within said reduced diameter portion 76.

The interior of the body 75 comprises a cylindrical chamber 86 extending longitudinally of said body and at the bottom of said chamber there is a reduced diameter portion 87 defined by an enlargement or thickened wall portion 88. Within the chamber 87 there is disposed an annular thrust bearing race 96 having an annular flange 91 extending radially inwardly at the lower end of said member.

Within the chamber 86 there is disposed an annular bushing adjusting collar 92 which is wedge shaped in longitudinal section, the base or thickest end portion being disposed at the bottom and adapted to seat on the upper surface 93 of the wall portion 88, said surface 93 being normal to the axis of the body. It is to be noted that the collar 92 does not extend to the top of the body 75 and there is an elongated slot 94 in said collar intermediate the ends thereof.

It is to be noted that the interior of the collar 92 flares outwardly from the lower end to the upper end and Within said collar are a plurality of bushing elements 96, 97 and 98, element 96 being at the bottom with the element 97 at the upper end thereof and the element 98 at the upper end or" said element 97, the upper surface of the element 98 being in substantially the same plane as the upper end of the housing 75. The outer peripheral surfaces of said bushing elements 96, 97 and 98 have substantially the same taper as the taper of the inside of the collar 92 and the peripheral surfaces of said elements seat on the internal surface of said collar.

On top of the body 75 there is disposed a cage 16!) and above said cage there is a bit guide, indicated generally at 181, having an annular flange 102 from which extends an upwardly and outwardly flaring part 1'63. Suitable aligned bolt holes are provide in the flange 182, cage 198 and the upper end of the body 75 for reception of bolts 1134 whereby the body 75, cage 108, and guide 101 are secured together.

Within the bearings 96, 97 and 98, there is disposed a rotatable sleeve 1133 having an inwardly and downwardly inclined portion 109 at the lower end thereof, and at the lower end of the inclined portion 189 there is a depending part 118, the lower end portion of which is operably received within the wear sleeve 81, there being a plurality of O-rings 111 disposed in grooves provided therefor in the portion 110 to provide a seal between said portion 118 and the sleeve 81. On the flange 91 of the thrust bearing race 99 are stacked a plurality of annular, thrust bearings 112 and on the upper end of said thrust bearings is disposed a thrust bearing spacer 114 which is triangular in shape and has an inclined face engageable with the lower inclined side of the part 109 of the rotatable sleeve 1138.

Within the sleeve 188 there is an annular stripper rubher 118 having a plurality of plates 119 disposed adjacent the upper end thereof and spaced apart about said rubber. The upper ends of said plates are provided with openings for reception of a wire retainer 121 extending annularly within the stripper rubber 118 adjacent the upper end. There is a mounting ring 122 having a plurality of depending fingers 123 which curve outwardly and slightly upwardly and support the wire 121. The fingers 123 are spaced apart and the mounting plates 119 are operably received in the respective spaces between said fingers 123.

The mounting ring 122 is secured to an outwardly extending flange portion 124 at the bottom of a rotatable sleeve 125 by means of screws 126. The mounting ring 122 and the flange 124 are externally threaded for screwing into the internally threaded upper end portion of sleeve 108, there being a shoulder 124a on said flange to limit inward screwing of said ring and flange into said sleeve 108.

Disposed on the upper surface of the flange 124 is an annular, upper thrust bearing protector plate 127 on which is disposed an annular upper thrust bearing 128 secured in position by a locking ring 130 which in turn is secured against upward displacement by a snap ring 131 received in a groove provided therefor in the sleeve and extending outwardly of said sleeve to engage a shoulder 133 at the inner side of the locking ring 130. The locking ring has an external annular groove 135 thereabout for reception of the inner ends of looking pins 136 slidable in radial bores provided therefor in the cage 100. At the outer ends of each of said bores there is an axially aligned cylinder 137 of greater diameter than said bore in which is slidably received a piston 138 formed integrally on the pin 136. A cap 139 is provided for each of the locking pins 136 and each cap is axially aligned with the respective locking pin and is provided with an outwardly extending flange 148 at the inner end thereof which seats against a shoulder 141 at the outer end of the cylinder 137 and is secured in position by a snap ring 142 provided for this purpose and received in an annular groove provided therefor. There are a pair of passages, 144 and 145 adapted to be connected to pressure fluid lines. The passage 144 communicates with one end of the cylinder 137 so that pressure therefrom will urge the piston 138 and the pin 136 outwardly. The pressure line 145 is connected to the opposite end of the cylinder 137 and pressure therefrom urges the piston 138 and pin 136 inwardly. The cap 139 is provided with an internal flange 146 which limits outward movement of the piston 138 and pin 136 and also serves as a seat against which the inner end of the spring 147 abuts, said spring being disposed on a reduced diameter portion 148 of the pin 136. At the outer end of said reduced diameter portion 148 there is a washer 149 disposed on a further reduced diameter portion, not shown, of the pin 136, said further reduced diameter portion being externally threaded for reception of a nut 150 which holds the washer 149 on the pin. The spring 147 urges the pin 136 to the released position, said pin being held in the locking position by the fluid pressure transmitted to the right hand side or outer side of the piston 138.

The sleeve 125 extends upwardly and is provided with a plurality of notches at the upper end for reception of tongues 156 of a solid outside drive ring 157 disposed at the outer end of said sleeve 125. Ring 157 is provided with notches 158 extending from the upper free end thereof for reception of external lugs 159 of a split inside drive ring 160 which is received within the outside drive ring 157 and the sleeve 125. The rings 157 and 160 are secured together by a snap ring 162 removably received in a groove formed in the exterior surface of said ring 157 and the lugs 159. The inside drive ring 160 has a longitudinal passage therethrough which has the same cross sectional configuration as the pipes 10 and the barrels 31 thereof and said drive ring 160 is adapted to slidably receive said pipes 10 and barrels 31 thereof.

Said pipes with their barrels and mandrels comprise the drill string which in effect is an elongated kelly. As the drill string is rotated, the rotatable assembly which includes the sleeve 1G8, stripper rubber 118, sleeve 125, ring 157, and ring 160, is rotated within the body 75, cage 100 and bit guide. The stripper rubber 118 sealingly engages the drill string and the rotatable assembly is provided with sealing means so that when the head is operated under water, the Water will not enter the well through said head and fluid pressure within the well will be held so that there will not be an escape of fluid from said well.

When drilling an oil Well or the like under water, the submarine drilling head, along with other equipment, is located at the underwater floor and may be located hundreds of feet below the surface of the Water. By using the present type of drill string comprising pipe having a plurality of exterior sides and embodying a connector which includes a barrel of the same size and exterior configuration as the pipe to which it is attached,

the drill string constitutes a kelly which extends through the submarine drilling head and positively rotates the rotatable assembly thereby reducing wearing of the stripper rubber 118 to a minimum.

The bushings 96, 97 and 98 serve as bearings for the rotatable assembly and tightening of said bushings is effected by means of an adjusting screw 165 to effect upward movement of a bushing adjustment collar 92.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown another type of rotating blowout preventer and stripper in which the type of drill pipe and connector above described may be used. This rotating blowout preventer and stripper is of a known type but will be briefly described.

There is a body 170 having a flange 171 at the lower end thereof for attachment to adjacent well equipment such as cellar control gates. Attached to the upper end of the body 170 there is a quick releasing bonnet 172 and attached to said bonnet at the upper end thereof is a stationary housing 173. Within the housing 173 and bonnet 1'72, and extending into the upper end portion of the body 170 is a rotating sleeve 174 between which, and the housing 173, are roller bearings 175. These roller bearings include both radial and thrust bearings.

Attached to the lower end of the sleeve 174 by means of screws 176 is a stripper rubber holder 177. Attached to the stripper rubber holder 177 is a ring 178 carrying stripper rubber 179, the ring 178 and rubber 179 are similar in construction and connection to the corresponding part in the arrangement shown in FIG. 4.

At the upper end of the rotating sleeve 174 there is a solid outside drive ring 180 of substantially the same outside diameter as the outside diameter of the sleeve 174, said ring 180 also having substantially the same inside diameter as said sleeve 174. Within the ring 180 and the upper end portion of the sleeve 174 is a split inside drive ring 181 similar to the ring 160 in the arrangement shown in FIG. 4. The ring 180 is secured to the sleeve 174 in substantially the same manner as the ring 157 is secured to the sleeve 125 in the FIG. 4 arrangement, there being a snap ring 133 received in a groove provided therefor in the ring 186 and the external portion 184 of the inside drive ring.

The drill string is received in the head shown in FIG. in a manner similar to the reception of thekdrill string in the arrangement shown in FIG. 4. The rotating sleeve 174 rotates with the string and the stripper rubber 179 provides a tight seal with the exterior of said drill string.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is thought that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention and the method of operation thereof without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the arrangements hereinbefore described being merely for purposes of illustration.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for drilling wells and the like wherein there may be relatively high pressures within said well, comprising the combination of a rotary blowout preventer and stripper having a housing and an internal rotating sleeve means operably mounted therein and carrying a stripper rubber with a sectional drill string of planar-sided exterior configuration, said drill string including a plurality of planar-sided pipe sections separably interlocked in side aligned relationship to provide continuous planar sides on the exterior of said drill string, said sleeve means and stripper rubber being longitudinally apertured to slidably receive said drill string, said sleeve means further having means for engaging the continuous planar sides of said drill string to eifect non-rotatable engagement between said rotary blowout preventer and stripper and said drill string, andsaid drill string, in having continuous planar exterior sides, being freely longitudinally slidable throughout its length in said sleeve means, each pipe section of said string having a tubular mandrel at one end including a cylindrical base with an axially arranged, cylindrical shank of reduced diameter extending out vardly of the outer end of said base, said base being provided with a plurality of exterior key slots extending longitudinally inwardly from the outer end thereof, the number of sides of the section of the drill string being a multiple of the number of key slots and from one side of each of the slots there extends a pair of downwardly inclined spiral recesses which are spaced longitudinally apart with respect to the base and the respective key slots, said recesses extending in the same direction from the key slots; a barrel unit at the opposite end of said pipe section, said barrel unit comprising a tubular barrel having the same number of exterior sides as said pipe section and of no greater external dimensions than said section so that the sides of said barrel form continuations of the respective sides of said section and in the same planes as said sides of said section; a plurality of pairs of lugs on the interior of said barrel, each pair of lugs being adapted to slide into and out of the key slots and said respective recesses of a tubular mandrel of an adjacent pipe section, said lugs when completely received in said mandrel recesses being effective to align the sides of said barrel and the sides of said adjacent pipe section; a key sleeve slidably disposed in said barrel and having outwardly extending keys at the outer end and longitudinally extending recesses for reception of the lugs when the sleeve is installed in said barrel, said keys being slidable into and out of said key slots when pipe sections are respectively connected with and disconnected from each other and, when in said key slots with said barrel lugs in said recesses, being effective to separably interlock said barrel and said adjacent mandrel carrying pipe section in said side aligned relationship; releasable means for retaining said sleeve against rotation in the barrel with the recesses of said sleeve out of alignment with said lugs; and yielding means acting on the sleeve and actuating same outwardly to move the keys into the key slots of an adjacent pipe section mandrel when said barrel unit is telescoped on the mandrel of said adjacent pipe section.

2. Apparatus for drilling wells and the like wherein there may be relatively high pressures within said well, comprising the combination of a rotary blowout preventer and stripper having a body, and a guide at the upper end and an internal rotating sleeve means operably mounted in bushings and carrying a stripper rubber, with a sectional drill string of planar-sided exterior configuration, said drill string including a plurality of planar-sided pipe sections separably interlocked in side aligned relationship to provide continuous planar sides on the exterior of said drill string, said sleeve means and stripper rubber being longitudinally apertured to slidably receive said drill string, said sleeve means further having means for engaging the continuous planar sides of said drill string to effect non-rotatable engagement between said rotary blowout preventer and stripper and said drill string, and said drill string, in having continuous planar exterior sides, being freely longitudinally slidable throughout its length in said sleeve means, each pipe section of said string having a tubular mandrel at one end including a cylindrical base with an axially arranged, cylindrical shank of reduced diameter extending outwardly of the outer end thereof, said base being provided with a plurality of exterior key slots extending longitudinally inwardly. from the outer end of the base, the number of sides of the section of the drill string being a multiple of the number of key slots and from one side of each of the slots there extends a pair of downwardly inclined spiral recesses which are spaced longitudinally apart with respect to the base and the respective key slots, said recesses extending in the same direction from the key slots; a barrel unit at the opposite end of said pipe section, said barrel unit comprising a tubular barrel having the same number of exterior sides as said section and of no greater external dimensions than said section so that the sides of said barrel form continuations of the respective sides of said section and in the same planes as said sides of said sections; a plurality of pairs of lugs on the interior of said barrel, each pair of lugs being adapted to slide into and out of the key slots and being movable into and out of said respective recesses of a tubular mandrel of an adjacent pipe section, said lugs when received in said mandrel recesses being efiective to align the sides of said barrel and the sides of said adjacent pipe section; a key sleeve slidably disposed in said barrel and having outwardly extending keys at one end removably receivable in said key slots; releasable means for retaining said sleeve against rotation in the barrel; and yielding means urging the sleeve outwardly to automatically move the keys into key slots of an adjacent pipe section mandrel when the barrel unit and mandrel are telescopically moved together.

3. Apparatus for drilling wells and the like wherein there may be relatively high pressures within said well, comprising the combination of a rotary blowout preventer and stripper having a housing and an internal rotating sleeve means operably mounted in bearings and carrying a stripper rubber, with a sectional drill string of planarsided exterior configuration, said drill string including a plurality of planar-sided pipe sections separably interlocked in side aligned relationship to provide continuous planar sides on the exterior of said drill string, said sleeve means and stripper rubber being longitudinally apertured to slidably receive said drill string, said sleeve means further having means for engaging the continuous planar sides of said drill string to efiect non-rotatable engagement between said rotary blowout preventer and stripper and said drill string, and said drill string, in having continuous planar exterior sides, being freely longitudinally slidable throughout its length in said sleeve means, each pipe section of said string having a tubular mandrel at one end including a cylindrical base with an axially arranged, cylindrical shank of reduced diameter extending outwardly of the outer end thereof, said base being provided with a plurality of exterior key slots extending longitudinally inwardly from the outer end of the base, the number of sides of the section of the drill string being a multiple of the number of key slots and from one side of each of the slots there extends a pair of downwardly inclined spiral recesses which are spaced longitudinally apart with respect to the base and the respective key slots, said recesses extending in the same direction from the same respective sides of the key slots; a barrel unit at the opposite end of said pipe section, said barrel unit comprising a tubular barrel having the same number of exterior sides as said section and of no greater external dimensions than said section so that the sides of said barrel form continuations of the respective sides of said section and in the same planes as said sides of said sections; a plurality of pairs of lugs on the interior of said barrel, each pair of lugs being adapted to slide into and out of the key slots and being movable into and out of said respective recesses of a tubular mandrel of an adjacent pipe section, said lugs when completely received in said mandrel recesses being efiective to align the sides of said barrel and the sides of said adjacent pipe section; a key sleeve slidably disposed in said barrel and having outwardly extending keys at one end removably receivable in said key slots; releasable means for retaining said sleeve against rotation in the barrel; and yielding means urging the sleeve outwardly to automatically move the keys into key slots of an adjacent pipe section mandrel when the barrel unit and mandrel are telescopically moved together.

4. Apparatus for drilling wells and the like wherein there may be relatively high pressures within said well, comprising the combination of a rotary blowout preventer and stripper having a housing and an internal rotating sleeve means operably therein and carrying a stripper rubber, with a sectional drill string of planar-sided exterior configuration, said drill string including a plurality of planar-sided pipe sections separably interlocked in side aligned relationship to provide continuous planar sides on the exterior of said drill string, said sleeve means and stripper rubber being longitudinally apertured to slidably receive said drill string, said sleeve means further having means for engaging the continuous planar sides of said dr' l string to efiect non-rotatable engagement between said rotary blowout preventer and stripper and said drill string, and said drill string, in having continuous planar exterior sides, being freely longitudinally slidable throughout its length in said sleeve means, each section of said string having a tubular mandrel at one end including a part having a plurality of exterior key slots extending longitudinally inwardly from the outer end of said part, the number of sides of the pipe section of the drill string being a multiple of the number of key slots, from one side of each of the slots there extends at least one downwardly inclined spiral recess, said recesses extending in the same direction from the same respective sides of the key slots; a barrel unit at the opposite end of said pipe section, said barrel unit comprising a tubular barrel having the same number of exterior sides as said section and of no greater external dimensions than said section so that the sides of said barrel form continuations of the respective sides of said section and in the same planes as said sides of said sections; a plurality of lugs on the interior of said barrel adapted to slide into and out of the key slots and being movable into and out of said respective recesses of a tubular mandrel of an adjacent pipe section, said lugs when received in said mandrel recesses being efiective to align the sides of said barrel and the sides of said adjacent pipe section; a key sleeve slidably disposed in said barrel and having outwardly extending keys at one end removably receivable in respective key slots; means retaining said sleeve against rotation in the barrel; and yielding means normally urging the sleeve to its outermost position.

5. In apparatus for drilling Wells and the like wherein there may be relatively high pressures within said well, the combination of a rotary blowout preventer and stripper including an internal rotating sleeve means carrying a stripper rubber, with a drill string including sectional drill string of planar-sided exterior configuration, said drill string including a plurality of planar-sided pipe sections separably interlocked in side aligned relationship to provide continuous planar sides on the exterior of said drill string, said sleeve means and stripper rubber being longitudinally apertured to slidably receive said drill string, said sleeve means further having means for engaging the continuous planar sides of said drill string to effect nonrotatable engagement between said rotary blowout preventer and stripper and said drill string, and said drill string, in having continuous planar exterior sides, being freely longitudinally slidable throughout its length in said sleeve means; and releasable coupling means for connecting together said pipe sections, said couplings each including a part on one end of a pipe section and a second part on the adjacent end of the adjacent pipe section in which the first part telescopes, said second part having the same number of exterior sides as said pipe sections and of no greater external dimensions than said sections so that the respective sides of said second part form continuations of the sides of said pipe sections and in the same planes as said sides of said sections; and means for locking the parts of said couplings together so that the sides of said second parts are always aligned with the sides of the next adjacent pipe sections.

6. Coupling means for planar-sided pipe sections of drill strings, each pipe section of said string having a tubular mandrel at one end including a cylindrical base with an axially arranged, cylindrical shank of reduced diameter extending outwardly of the outer end of said base, said base being provided with a plurality of exterior key slots extending longitudinally inwardly from the outer end thereof, the number of sides of the section of the drill string being a multiple of the number of key slots and from one side of each of the slots there extends a pair of downwardly inclined spiral recesses which are spaced longitudinally apart with respect to the base and the respective key slots, said recesses extending in the same direction from the key slots; a barrel unit carried at the opposite end of each pipe section for coupling with a one end, said barrel unit comprising a tubular barrel having the same number of exterior sides as said pipe section and of no greater external dimensions than said section so that the sides of said barrel form continuations of the respective sides of said one section and in the same planes as said sides of each section; a plurality of pairs of lugs on the interior of said barrel, each pair of lugs being adapted to slide into and out of the key slots and said respective recesses when said pipe sections are connected together or disconnected, said barrel lugs, when received in said mandrel recesses, being effective to align the sides of said barrel and the adjacent sides of said mandrel at said one end of each pipe section; an independently movable key sleeve slidably disposed in said barrel and having outwardly extending keys at the outer end and longitudinally extending recesses for reception of the 'lugs when the sleeve is installed in said barrel, said sleeve being longitudinally slidable in response to an inwardly and outwardly directed longitudinal force applied at its ends, said keys being slidable into and out of said key slots when said pipe sections are respectively connected with and disconnected from each other and, when in said key slots with said barrel lugs in said mandrel recesses, being efiective to separably interlock said pipe sections in said side aligned relationship; releasable means for retaining said sleeve against rotation in the barrel with the recesses of said sleeve out of alignment with said lugs; and yielding means urging the sleeve outwardly.

7. Apparatus for drilling wells and the like wherein there may be relatively high pressures within said well, comprising the combination of a rotary blowout preventer and stripper having a housing and an internal rotating sleeve means operable therein and carrying a stripper rubber, with a sectional drill string of planarsided exterior configuration, said drill string including a plurality of planar-sided pipe sections separably interlocked in side alinged relationship to provide continuous planar sides on the exterior of said drill string, said sleeve means and stripper rubber being longitudinally apertured to slidably receive said drill string, said sleeve means further having means for engaging the continuous planar sides of said drill string to effect non-rotatable engagement between said rotary blowout preventer and stripper and said drill string, and said drill string, in having continuous planar exterior sides, being freely longitudinally slidable throughout its length in said sleeve means, each section of said string having a tubular mandrel at one end including a part having a plurality of exterior key slots extending longitudinally inwardly from the outer end of said part, the number of sides of the pipe section of the drill string being a multiple of the number of key slots, from one side of each of the slots there extends at least one downwardly inclined spiral recess, said recesses extending in the same direction from the same respective sides of the key slots; a barrel unit at the opposite end of said pipe section, said barrel unit comprising a tubular barrel having the same number of exterior sides as said section and of no greater external dimensions than said section so that the sides of said barrel form continuations of the respective sides of said section and in the same planes as said sides of said sections; a plurality of lugs on the interior of said barrel adapted to slide into and out of the key slots and being movable into and out of said respective recesses of the mandrel of the adjacent pipe section, said lugs when received in said mandrel recesses being effective to align the sides of said barrel and the sides of said adjacent pipe section; a key sleeve slidably disposed in said barrel and having outwardly extending keys at one end removably receivable in respective key slots of the mandrel of said adjacent pipe section; means retaining said sleeve against rotation in the barrel; yielding means urging the sleeve outwardly; and means for engaging said sleeve from the exterior of the barrel unit for moving said sleeve to the release position.

8. Coupling means for the pipe sections of drill string, each pipe section having a plurality of planar sides, comprising: a tubular mandrel carried at one end of the pipe sections, said mandrel including a cylindrical base with an axially arranged, cylindrical shank of reduced diameter extending axially outwardly of the outer end of said base, said base being provided with a plurality of exterior key slots extending longitudinally inwardly from the outer end thereof, the number of sides of the section of the drill string being a multiple of the number of key slots and from one side of each of the slots there extends a pair of downwardly inclined spiral recesses which are spaced longitudinally apart with respect to the base and the respective key slots, said recesses extending in the same direction from the key slots; a barrel unit carried at the opposite end of each pipe section into which the mandrel of the adjacent pipe section is received, said barrel unit comprising a tubular barrel having the same number of exterior sides as said pipe section and of no greater external dimensions than said section so that the sides of said barrel form continuations of the respective sides of said section and in the same planes as said sides of said section; a plurality of pairs of lugs on the interior of said barrel, each pair of lugs being adapted to slide into and out of the key slots and said respective recesses of the mandrel of said adjacent pipe section when said pipe sections are connected together or disconnected, said barrel lugs, when completely received in said mandrel recesses, being effective to align the sides of said barrel and the adjacent sides of said mandrel carrying pipe section; an independently movable key sleeve slidably disposed in said barrel and having outwardly extending keys at the outer end and longitudinally extending recesses for reception of the lugs when the sleeve is installed or removed from said barrel, said sleeve being longitudinally slidable in response to an inwardly or an outwardly directed longitudinal force applied at its ends, said keys being slidable into and out of said key slots of the mandrel of said adjacent pipe section when said pipe sections are respectively connected with and disconnected from each other and, when in said key slots with said barrel lugs in said mandrel recesses, being effective to separably interlock said pipe sections in said side aligned relationship; releasable means for retaining said sleeve against rotation in the barrel with the recesses of said sleeve out of alignment with said lugs; yielding means urging the sleeve outwardly; and means whereby said sleeve may be engaged from the exterior of the barrel and moved to a release position.

9. Coupling means for the pipe sections of drill strings, each pipe section having a plurality of planar sides, comprising: a tubular mandrel carried at one end of each pipe section including a part having a plurality of exterior key slots extending longitudinally inwardly from the outer end thereof, the number of sides of the section of the drill string being a multiple of the number of key slots and from one side of each of the slots there extends a pair of downwardly inclined spiral recesses which are spaced longitudinally. apart with respect to the base and the respective key slots, said recesses extending in the same direction from the key slots; a barrel unit carried at the opposite end of each pipe section, said barrel unit comprising a tubular barrel having the same number of exterior sides as said pipe section and of no greater external dimensions than said section so that the sides of said barrel form continuations of the respective sides of 13 said section and in the same planes as said sides of said section; a plurality of pairs of lugs on the interior of said barrel, each pair of lugs being adapted to slide into and out of the key slots of the mandrel of the adjacent pipe section and said respective recesses thereof when said pipe sections are connected together or disconnected, said barrel lugs, when completely received in said mandrel recesses being etlective to align the sides of said barrel and the adjacent sides of said mandrel carrying pipe section; an independently movable key sleeve slidably disposed in said barrel and having outwardly extending keys at the outer end, said sleeve being longitudinally slidable in response to an inwardly or an outwardly directed longitudinal force applied at its ends, said keys being slidable into and out of said key slots for locking said pipe sections together and releasing said sections to disconnect same from each other and, when in said key slots with said barrel lugs in said mandrel recesses, being effective to separably interlock said pipe sections in said side aligned relationship; releasable means for retaining said sleeve against rotation in the barrel; yielding means urging the sleeve outwardly; and means for moving said sleeve to the release position.

10. In coupling means for the pipe sections of drill strings wherein said pipe sections have a plurality of exterior planar sides: a tubular mandrel carried by one pipe section and including a cylindrical base with an axially arranged, cylindrical shank of reduced diameter extending outwardly of the outer end of said base, said base being provided with a plurality of exterior key slots extending longitudinally inwardly from the outer end thereof, the number of sides of the sections of the drill string being a multiple of the number of key slots and from one side of each of the slots therein extends at least one downwardly inclined spiral recess, said recesses extending in the same direction from the key slots; a barrel unit carried by another pipe section and into which said mandrel is slidably receivable, said barrel unit comprising a tubular barrel having the same number of exterior sides as said pipe section to which it is adapted to be secured and of no greater external dimensions than said section so that the sides of said barrel form continuations of the respective sides of said section and in the same planes as said sides of said section; a plurality of lugs on the interior of said barrel, said lugs being adapted to slide into and out of the key slots and said respective recesses of the mandrel when said pipe sections are connected together or disconnected, said barrel lugs, when completely received in said mandrel recesses being effective to align the sides of said barrel and the adjacent sides of said mandrel carrying pipe section; an independently movable key sleeve slidably disposed in said barrel and having outwardly extending keys at the outer end, said sleeve being longitudinally slidable in response to an inwardly or an outwardly directed longitudinal force applied at its ends, said keys being slidable into and out of said key slots when the parts of the coupling are connected with and disconnected from each other and, when in said key slots with said barrel lugs in said mandrel recesses, being effective to separably interlock said pipe sections in said aligned relationship; releasable means for retaining said sleeve against rotation in the barrel; and yielding means urging the sleeve outwardly.

11. In an article of manufacture for releasably connecting together planar-sided pipe sections of drill strings: a tubular mandrel carried by one pipe section and provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending, exterior key slots and from one side of each of the slots there extends downwardly inclined spiral recesses, said recesses extending in the same direction from the respective key slots, the number of sides of the pipe sections being a multiple of the number of key slots; a barrel unit carried by another pipe section and comprising a tubular barrel having the same number of exterior sides as the pipe section on which said barrel unit is to be used and of no greater external dimensions than said section so that the sides of said barrel will form continuations of the respective sides of said section and in the same planes as said sides of said section; a plurality of lugs on the interior of said barrel adapted to slide into and out of said key slots and said respective recesses when said pipe sections are connected together or disconnected, said barrel lugs, when completely received in said mandrel recesses being effective to align the sides of said barrel and the adjacent sides of said mandrel carrying pipe section; an independently movable key sleeve slidably disposed in said barrel and having outwardly extending keys at the outer end, said sleeve being longitudinally slidable in response to an inwardly or an outwardly directed longitudinal force applied at its ends, said keys being slidable into and out of the respective key slots when said pipe sections are respectively connected with and disconnected from each other and, when in said key slots with said barrel lugs in said mandrel recesses, being effective to separably interlock said pipe sections in said side aligned relationship; means for retaining said sleeve against rotation in the barrel; yielding means urging the sleeve outwardly; and means for moving said sleeve to the release position.

12. In an article of manufacture for releasably connecting together planar-sided pipe sections of drill strings: a tubular mandrel carried by one pipe section and provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending, exterior key slots and from one side of each of the slots there are laterally extending recesses, said recesses extending in the same direction from the respective key slots, the number of sides of the sections being a multiple of the number of key slots; a barrel unit carried by another pipe section and comprising a tubular barrel having a plurality of exterior planar sides; a plurality of lugs on the interior of said barrel adapted to slide into and out of said key slots and said respective recesses when said pipe sections are connected together or disconnected, said barrel lugs, when completely received in said mandrel recesses being effective to align the sides of said barrel and the adjacent sides of said mandrel carrying pipe section; an independently movable key sleeve slidably disposed in said barrel and having outwardly extending keys at the outer end, said sleeve being longitudinally slidable in response to an inwardly or an outwardly directed longitudinal force applied at its ends, said keys being slidable into and out of the respective key slots when said pipe sections are respectively connected with and disconnected from each other and, when in said key slots with said barrel lugs in said mandrel recesses, being efiective to separably interlock said pipe sections in said side aligned relationship; means for retaining said sleeve against rotation in the barrel; yielding means urging the sleeve outwardly; and means for moving said sleeve to the release position.

13. In an article of manufacture for releasably connecting together planar-sided pipe sections of drill strings: a tubular mandrel carried by one pipe section and provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending, exterior key slots and from one side of each of the slots there extends downwardly inclined spiral recesses, said recesses extending in the same direction from the respective key slots; a barrel unit carried by another pipe section and comprising a tubular barrel having the same number of exterior sides as the pipe section on which said barrel unit is to be used and of no greater external dimensions than said section so that the sides of said barrel will form continuations of the respective sides of said section and in the same planes as said sides of said section; a plurality of lugs on the interior of said barrel adapted to slide into and out of said key slots and said respective recesses when said pipe sections are connected together or disconnected, said barrel lugs, when completely received in said mandrel recesses being effective to align the sides of said barrel and the adjacent sides of said mandrel carrying pipe section; an independently movable key sleeve slidably disposed in said barrel and having outwardly extending keys at the outer end, said sleeve being longitudinally slidable in response to an inwardly or an outwardly directed longitudinal force applied at its ends, said keys being slidable into and out of the respective key slots when said pipe sections are respectively connected with and disconnected from each other and, when in said key slots With said barrel lugs in said mandrel recesses, being effective to separably interlock said pipe sections in said side aligned relationship, said sleeve having means engageable by a releasing tool for moving said sleeve to the released position; means for retaining said sleeve against rotation in the barrel; and yielding means urging the sleeve outwardly.

14. In an article of manufacture for releasably connecting together planar-sided pipe sections of drill strings; a tubular mandrel carried by one pipe section and provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending, exterior key slots and from one side of each of the slots there are laterally extending recesses, said recesses extending in the same direction from the respective key slots; a barrel unit carried by another pipe section and comprising a tubular barrel having a plurality of exterior planar sides; a plurality of lugs on the interior of said barrel adapted to slide into and out of said key slots and said respective recesses when said pipe sections are connected together or disconnected, said barrel lugs, when completely received in said mandrel recesses being efiective to align the sides of said barrel and the adjacent sides of said mandrel carrying pipe section; an independently movable key sleeve slidably disposed in said barrel and having outwardly extending keys at the outer end, said sleeve being longitudinally slidable in response to an inwardly or an outwardly directed longitudinal force applied at its ends, said keys being slidable into and out of the respective key slots when said pipe sections are respectively connected with and disconnected from each other and, when in said key slots with said barrel lugs in said mandrel recesses, being efiective to separably interlock said pipe sections in said side aligned relationship, said sleeve having a part engageable by a releasing tool for moving said sleeve to the release position; means for retaining said sleeve against rotation in the barrel; and yieldable means urging the sleeve outwardly.

15. In an article of manufacture for releasably connecting together planar-sided pipe sections of drill strings; a tubular mandrel carried by another pipe section and provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending, exterior key slots and from one side of each of the slots there is a laterally extending recess, said recesses extending in the same direction from the respective key slots; a barrel unit carried by another pipe section and comprising a tubular barrel having a plurality of'exterior planar sides, there being a longitudinally extending opening in said barrel; a plurality of lugs on the interior of said barrel adapted to slide into and out of said key slots and said respective recesses when said pipe sections are connected together or disconnected together, said barrel lugs, when completely received in said mandrel recesses being effective to align the sides of said barrel and the adjacent sides of said mandrel carrying pipe section; an independently movable key sleeve slidably disposed in said barrel and having outwardly extending keys at the outer end, said sleeve being longitudinally slidable in response to an inwardly or an outwardly directed longitudinal force applied at its ends, said keys being slidable into and out of the respective key slots when said pipe sections are respectively connected with and disconnected from each other and, when in said key slots with said barrel lugs in said mandrel recesses, being effective to separably interlock said pipe sections in said side aligned relationship, said sleeve having a part exposed through the opening in the barrel unit whereby a releasing tool may be inserted through said opening and into engagement with said part for moving said sleeve to the release position; means for retaining said sleeve against rotation in the barrel; and yielding means urging the sleeve outwardly.

16. In an article of manufacture: a tubular pipe section having a plurality of exterior planar sides; a barrel unit, the barrel of which is defined by an end portion of said pipe section having the planar sides; a tubular mandrel carried at the opposite end of said pipe section from the barrel unit, said mandrel being of reduced exterior size and being provided with exterior key slots spaced annularly thereabout and from one side of each of said key slots there is a laterally extending recess, said recesses extending in the same direction from the respective key slots; a plurality of lugs on the interior of said barrel so related relative to the key slotsand recesses thereof that when a mandrel of'an adjacent pipe section is received in said barrel, said lugs will slide into and out of said key slots and respective recesses; an independently movable key sleeve slidably disposed in said barrel and having outwardly extending keys at the outer end, said sleeve being longitudinally slidable in response to an inwardly or an outwardly directed longitudinal force applied to its ends, said keys being slidable into and out of respective key slots of the mandrel of said adjacent pipe section when the mandrel is disposed in the barrel, the lugs of the barrel and the key slots and recesses thereof of the mandrel being so related relative to the planar sides of the pipe section that when pipe sections are joined together, said sides are in common continuous planes re spectively and said sections are interlocked; means for retaining the sleeve against rotation in the barrel and yielding means urging the sleeve outwardly.

17. The invention defined by claim 16 including means whereby the sleeve may be engaged by a tool from the exterior of the pipe section to move said sleeve to the release position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,039,536 Hill Sept. 24, 1912 1,331,309 Wright Feb. 17, 1920 1,928,947 Newman Oct. 3, 1933 2,051,261 Mac Clatchie Aug. 18, 1936 2,401,960 Pranger June 11, 1946 2,462,477 Edwards Feb. 22, 1949 2,708,100 Sutlifi May 10, 1955 2,808,229 Bauer et al. Oct. 1, 1957 2,808,230 McNeill et a1. Oct. 1, 1957 2,950,929 Nicolson Aug. 30, 1960 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Pa tent N0, 3,023 809 March 6 1962 Ross A McClinLock It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column l0 line 45 strike out "drill string including";

column 11, line 47 for "alinged" read aligned column 15 line 46, for "another" read one Signed and sealed this 21st day of August 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ESTON Go JOHNSON DAVID L LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

